Tag Archives: pomp rock

Album review: ART OF ILLUSION – X Marks The Spot

Posted on December 8, 2020 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 29.01.21] This is the debut album by Art Of Illusion, a duo consisting of composer and producer Anders Rydholm (Grand Illusion) and singer Lars Säfsund (Work Of Art) – see what they did there with the … Continue reading →

Album review: AMERICAN TEARS – Free Angel Express

Posted on October 18, 2020 by jason

Deko Entertainment [Release date 23.10.20] Since Mark Mangold brought back American Tears in 2018 they are now onto this, their third album – the sixth in the band’s history. This latest, ‘Free Angel Express’ features Alex Landenburg (Stratovarius, Kamelot, Rhapsody) … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, American Tears, Dave Brubeck, Free Angel Express, hard rock, Jazz rock, Mark Mangold, pomp rock, prog rock, review, rock, Touch | Leave a comment

Album review: DUKES OF THE ORIENT – Freakshow

Posted on August 14, 2020 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 07.08.20] Dukes Of The Orient – vocalist John Payne (ex-Asia, GPS) and keyboardist Erik Norlander (Last In Line, Lana Lane, Rocket Scientists) – return with their second album. Dukes Of The Orient has more of a band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, Asia, Dukes of the Orient, Erik Norlander, Frontiers, John Payne, melodic rock, pomp rock, prog rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: KANSAS – All Just Dust In The Wind The Legendary Broadcast

Posted on May 21, 2020 by jason

Coda Records Ltd (blue vinyl) This beautiful release (I’ll call it that because it’s great to look at and even better to listen to) features US rock band Kansas at their peak. Coda Records have been doing a fine job … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, All Just Dust In The Wind The Legendary Broadcast, classic rock, Kansas, live, pomp rock, prog rock, progressive, review, Steve Walsh | Leave a comment

Album review: PATTERN SEEKING ANIMALS – Prehensile Tales

Posted on April 19, 2020 by jason

PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS - Prehensile Tails

Inside Out [Release date 15.05.20] Pattern-Seeking Animals were formed by producer and writer John Boegehold (synths, keyboards) teaming up with current members of Spock’s Beard – Ted Leonard (vocals, guitar) and Dave Meros (bass) – plus former Spock’s Beard member … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged album, epic, Inside Out, Kansas, melodic, Pattern-Seeking Animals, pomp rock, pop, Prehensile Tales, progressive, review, rock, Spock's Beard | Leave a comment

Album review: ZON – Astral Projector/ORPHAN – Salute

Posted on April 5, 2020 by jason

Rock Candy [Release date 20.03.20] ZON – Astral Projector + 4 The band members’ post Zon experiences are arguably more colourful than their brief, 2 album grab at fame and fortune. And yet, the 1978 debut, “Astral Projector” promised so … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Reissues | Tagged album, AOR, Astral Projector, melodic rock, Orphan, pomp rock, re-issue, review, Rock Candy, Salute, Zon | Leave a comment

Feature: Call Collect – An introduction to MAGNUM

Posted on March 31, 2020 by GRTR! HQ

David Randall has followed Magnum since the 1990s when they consolidated their earlier successes. They split in 1995, subsequently re-generating in 2001. Since that time they have gone from strength to strength, maintaining a consistency across several albums and touring … Continue reading →

Posted in Call Collect, FEATURES | Tagged Bob Catley, Dennis Ward, feature, hard rock, interview, Lee Morris, Magnum, Mark Stanway, melodic rock, pomp rock, Rick Benton, Tony Clarkin | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL LANZON – 48 Seconds

Posted on August 10, 2019 by jason

Phil Lanzon Ditties/Cargo Records UK [Release date 02.08.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s ‘If You Think I’m Crazy’ Uriah Heep’s keyboards player Phil Lanzon is back with another solo album, which again sees him working with producer Simon … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, AOR, big band, classic rock, Grand Prix, John Mitchell, keyboards, melodic rock, Mick O'Donohue, Miriam Grey, Phil Lanzon, pomp rock, review, Richard Cottle, Simon Hanhart, Uriah Heep | 2 Comments

Gig review: STYX – London Palladium, 4 June 2019

Posted on June 10, 2019 by andynathan

It’s been eight long years since Styx last crossed the pond and on that occasion they opened a three way battle of the AOR behemoths with Foreigner and Journey, and for many observers stole the show. This belated return was … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged AOR, gig, James Young, Lawrence Gowan, melodic rock, pomp rock, review, Styx, Tommy Shaw | Leave a comment

Album review: CATS IN SPACE – Daytrip to Narnia

Posted on February 5, 2019 by jason

Harmony Factory [Release date 08.03.19] Album number three already from these groove filled Cats In Space who since their last album ‘Scarecrow‘ have been touring with the likes of Status Quo and Deep Purple, plus their own headlining tour. In … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged 10CC, 70s music, album, Andy Scott, Cats In Space, disco, ELO, Greg Hart, melodic, pomp rock, pop, power pop, Queen, review, rock, Sweet | Leave a comment

Album review: ANGEL – The Casablanca Years

Posted on August 18, 2018 by jason

Caroline International [Release date 14.09.18] Formed in Washington DC in the mid 70s, Angel were allegedly discovered playing in a nightclub by bassist Gene Simmons, and subsequently signed Kiss’ then label Casablanca. A big lush sound and the band dressed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts, Reissues | Tagged Angel, box set, classic rock, Frank Dimino, Gene Simmons, Gregg Giuffria, Kiss, melodic, pomp rock, prog, Punky Meadows, review, The Casablanca Years | Leave a comment

Gig review: QUEEN + ADAM LAMBERT, Wembley Arena, London, 15 December 2017

Posted on December 31, 2017 by andynathan

Arguably what we now think of as stadium or arena rock – big anthems designed for crowds to sing and sway along to and spectacular stage shows to match – can be dated back to 1977. After being overwhelmed by … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Adam Lambert, arena rock, Brian May, classic rock, gig, News of the World, pomp rock, Queen, review, Roger Taylor | Leave a comment

Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – Half Moon, Putney, London, 6 January 2016

Posted on January 11, 2016 by andynathan

One of the more left field bands that emerged in 2015 were the oddly named Cats In Space, with their affectionate homage to the seventies and in particular the lush soft rock sounds of the latter half of the decade … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Andy Stewart, Cats In Space, Dean Howard, gig, Greg Hart, Jeff Brown, Paul Manzi, pomp rock, review, soft rock, Too Many Gods | Leave a comment

Album review: DENNIS DEYOUNG – The Music of Styx : Live in Los Angeles

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Phil Berisford

Frontiers Records [Release date 20.10.14] Styx are one of my all time favourite bands and Dennis DeYoung was the vocalist, keyboard maestro and genius behind some of their biggest hits…but their biggest hit Babe, which is obviously featured on here, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album, AOR, August Zadra, Craig Carter, DENNIS DeYOUNG, Frontiers, Jimmy Leahey, John Blasucci, live, pomp rock, review, Styx, The Music of Styx : Live in Los Angeles, Tom Sharpe | Leave a comment

Gig review: KANSAS – Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 17 July 2014

Posted on July 18, 2014 by jason

Kansas were back after a nine year gap since their last London date and this was always going to be a special gig as Steve Walsh had announced a couple of weeks earlier that he was leaving the band after … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged Billy Greer, classic rock, David Ragsdale, gig review, Kansas, Kerry Livgren, Phil Ehart, pomp rock, prog rock, Rich Williams, Shepherd's Bush Empire, Steve Walsh, Tax The Heat, Thursday 17th July 2014 | Comments Off

Gig review: FOREIGNER, Styx and Don Felder – PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, USA, 31 May 2014

Posted on June 2, 2014 by jason

Apologies in advance, but I’m afraid this write up will be a little heavy on KISS rants, despite it not being a KISS show. Originally I was going to see Adrenaline Mob at Tremont, and then I heard that Styx … Continue reading →

Posted in All Posts, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged 70's rock, classic rock, Don Felder, Foreigner, gig, Kiss, pomp rock, review, Soundtrack of the Summer, Styx, Tour | Leave a comment

Album review: SPACE ELEVATOR – S/t plus interview with the Duchess

Posted on January 7, 2014 by jason

DY Music www.spaceelevatoronline.com [Released March 2014] Debut album by a band formed by guitarist David Young, who plays in the West End musical ‘We Will Rock You’ house band along with female vocalist called the Duchess. The band is completed … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album review, Dr Who, DY Music, Fleetwood Mac, Gallifrey, Neil Murray, pomp rock, Queen, SPACE ELEVATOR, The Darkness, the Duchess, We Will Rock You | 1 Comment

Album review: PROPHET – Asylum

Posted on November 17, 2013 by jason

Z Records www.z-records.com This best of rounds up highlights from the band’s three albums to date – ‘Prophet’ (1985), ‘Cycle Of The Moon’ (1988) and ‘Recycled’ (1991). ‘Cycle Of The Moon’ on its own should be any AOR/melodic rock fans … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged album review, AOR, Asylum, best of, Danger Dange, Dean Fasano, melodic rock, pomp rock, Prophet, Russell Arcara, Ted Poley, Z Records | Leave a comment

Album review: TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA – Tales Of Winter Selections From The TSO Rock Operas

Posted on November 9, 2013 by jason

Decca [Release date 02.12.13] A timely ‘best of’ from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, who embark on a European tour in January after their traditional US pre-Christmas tour (the band are so popular they run two versions of the band in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), All Posts | Tagged Al Pitrelli, Broadway, classical rock, epic, Jon Oliva, Paul O'Neill, pomp rock, Russ Kinkel, Savatage, Selections From The TSO Rock Operas, Tales Of Winter, Trans Siberian Orchestra, TSO, West End | Leave a comment

Album review: JONO – Requiem

Posted on October 23, 2013 by jason

www.jontheband.se Another great musical discovery from Sweden. Jono are centred around vocalist Johan Norrby who is joined by Within Temptation guitarist Stefan Hellebald and drummer Nicka Hellenberg, who appeared on the last Within Temptation album. Completing the line-up are Johan … Continue reading →